Apparatus for folding wrappers



4, 1953 R. M. DUNNING 2,660,099

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING WRAPPERS Filed Oct. 30, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov; 24, 1953 R. M. DUNNING 2,660,099

- APPARATUS FOR FOLDING WRAPPERS Filed Oct. 50, 1947 5 Shets-Sheet 2 /7 u MO 5 SheetsSheet 3 lax-A R. M. DUNNING APPARATUS FOR FOLDING WRAPPERS Nov. 24, 1953 Filed 001;. 30, 1947 Nov. 24, 1953 R. M. DUNNING APPARATUS FOR FOLDING WRAPPERS Filed Oct. 30, 1947 E ll: ':i. S

57,5heets-Sheet 4 '00 III 82 FLE.E

Nov. 24, 1953 R. M. DUNNING 2,660,099

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING WRAPPERS Filed 001;. so, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Plain FiE.J I3

INVENTOR. Q B? m. @unm Patented Nov. 24, 1953 lTED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS Fen FOLDING WRAPPERS Robert M. Dunning, St. Paul, Minn, assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul Minn, a corporation of Minnesota.

Application October so, 1947, Serial No. 783.093 Claims. (01. 93-42) My invention relates to an improvement in method and apparatus for folding wrappers,

wherein it is desired to provide a simple and efsolidifies. It is desirable, however, that. the bags be within the outer carton when filled so that the carton may be thoroughly filled and may act. as,

a form for holding thecheese until it solidifies.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for folding flat sheets of moisture resistant and preferably heat scalable mate? rial into bags and to provide a means of supporting the bags until they may be inserted into the cartons. Thus the cartons are in readiness for the sealing operation at the completion of the operation.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a support and a wrapper of the type described which includes an aperture into which the wrapper may be pressed. By forcing the wrapper into this aperture, the wrapper may be bent into U-shaped cross section as a first step of the bag forming operation. The means forcing the wrapper into the recess comprises an expandable mandrel which may be contracted in size after the bag has been formed to simplifythe removal of the bags from the mandrel.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of opposed means which engages the upwardly extending ends of the U-shaped wrapper and folds these ends inwardly overthe mandrel. These folding plates are so arranged as to form a seam in the bag by pressing the ends of the wrapper together to seal the same. Usually the wrappers are formed of a transparent film coated with a rubber, wax, resin mixture or. other film which may be sealed by pressure alone. However, if desired the ends of the bag may be heat sealed in the same operation.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a means for heat sealing the ends of the wrapper together without pressing these ends against the mandrel within the bag. In view of the nature of the wrapper, the wrapper tends to adhere to any surface against which it is pressed with considerable force, and this is particularly true of the inner surface of the wrapper. The bag sealing mechanism is so devised as to squeeze the ends of the bag-together with the inner surfaces of the bag in surface contact at the seam so as to afford a tight closure without adhering the wrapper to the mandrel- V 7 An additional feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a means for restricting the folding of the ends of the wrapper to insure contact between the inner surfaces of these ends at the connecting seam. A blade or arm overlies'a surface of the mandrel in spaced relation to this surface. The wrapper is forced betweenthis plate and the mandrehthusholding the extreme edges of thesheet doubled rearwardly as thesheet is folded to form the seam. As a result portions Of;

the inner surface of the wrapper are pressed together, thus forming amore effective seal than could otherwise be provided.

Anadded feature of the present inventionlies in the manner of moving the mandrel into posi-, tion where a carton having one sealed end may be inserted over the bag, while the bag is held in place by the mandrel. Thus by removingthe bag and cartons simultaneously from themandrel, the proper assembly is provided in readiness for receiving the filling material.

Another, feature of the present invention lies in the manner in which the carton, and bag are simultaneously withdrawn. from the mandrel. The liner comprises a soft flexible sheet which has a sealed end adjacent. the sealed end of the carton. The carton is of course relativelystiffer and encloses the sealed end of the liner. I have found that by withdrawing the carton quickly from the. mandrel any relative movement of the liner tends to create a partial vacuum in the sealed end of the carton and maintain the carton and bag'in assembled relation after removal from the mandrel.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a mean for stripping the wrapper from the mandrel as the mandrelis contracted. In preferred form the mandrel comprises a pair of opposed plates which may be moved toward each other or away from each other. Any excessive pressure against the wrapper pressing the wrapper against the plates has a tendency to forth in th following specif cation and claims, U a

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus showing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the apparatus showing the arrangement of the parts thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the apparatus, the position of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of my apparatus, partly in section showing the arrangement of the parts thereof.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the mandrel about which the wrapper is folded.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the mandrel illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the mandrel shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a detail portion of the operating mechanism.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the wrapper before the start of the folding operation.

Figure 10 is a perspective View of the wrapper in partially folded form.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the wrapper after the same has been longitudinally sealed.

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the mandrel supporting the wrapper in readiness for the end folding operation.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the wrapper after the end has been folded thereupon.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a carton for containing the folded wrapper, the carton being shown with one end sealed and the other end opened to receive the wrapper.

The apparatus A is shown as mounted upon a framework generally illustrated by the numeral ID. The framework I5 includes four spaced legs II formed of angle iron and held in spaced relation by a suitable shelf I2. At the upper end of the frame the legs I I are held in spaced relation by a rectangular angle iron frame I3. A rectangular wooden frame I4 is mounted upon the frame I3 for support thereby.

The folding apparatus includes two spaced wall forming members I5 and I6 and a similar pair of outer wall forming members IT and I9. The wall forming member I5, I6, I1 and I9 are held in properly spaced relation by four strips 20, 2|, 22 and 23 which are connected to the undersurface of the various wall forming members to hold the same erect.

The upper ends of the wall forming members are connected by spaced strips which are connected to the upper edges of the wall forming members to hold them in spaced relationship. The wall forming members I? and I5 are connected by two spaced strips or plates 24, and 25, and by a pair of outer plates 26 and 21. The wall forming members I5 and I9 are similarly connected with a pair of spaced plates 29 and 30 and a pair of outer plates SI and 32. This leaves the upper end of the space between the wall forming members [5 and I6 open throughout the length of these members. A brace strip 33 is connected to the upper extremities of the wall forming members 11 and I9 to hold these parts in spaced relation and to form a suitable guide which will be later described in detail.

A pair of opposed pressing plates 34 and 35 are slidably mounted on the upper surface of the strips just described in such a manner as to move forwardly and rearwardly toward or away from each other. As indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the plate 34 i guided in its movement by downwardly projecting lugs 36 and 31 which extend in the slots 38 and 39 formed between various of the strips described. The slot 38 is formed between the strips 24 and 25 and the slot 39 is formed between the strips 25 and 21. Removable cross members 40 and 4| are connected by bolt 42 or other suitable means to the lugs 36 and 31 and underlie the various strips to hold the plate 34 locked thereto. At the same time it will be noted that the plate 34 is slidable for a substantial distance forwardly and rearwardly.

The plate 35 is similarly guided and supported. The plate 35 is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 43 and 44 which extend in slots 45 and 45 between various of the strips. The slot 45 is provided by properly spacing the strips 29 and 3I, while the slot 46 is provided by properly spacing the plates 30 and 32. Cross members 41 and 43 are secured to the undersurface of the lugs 43 and 44 to underlie the adjacent strips so as to lock the plate 35 upon these strips. The cross members 4'! and 43 are removably held in place by bolts 50 or other suitable means.

A yoke is secured to the undersurface of each plate to extend through a slot between certain of the plate supporting strips. The yoke 5| is mounted on the undersurface of the plate 34 to extend through the slot 52 between the strips 24 and 25. The yoke 53 extends through the slot 54 between the strips 29 and 30. Each of these yokes is designed to embrace a cam roller 55 mounted at the upper extremity of a lever arm 56. The manner in which the cam roller 55 is mounted is best illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings, which shows the roller mounted upon a pivot 57 which is supported by spaced plates 59 projecting beyond the end of the lever arms 56.

A pair of spaced bars 53 are secured to the undersurface of the strips 2| and 22 adjacent the slot 6i therebetween. Pivots 52 extend through the bars to pivotally support the lever arms 55 intermediate their ends. The lower end of each lever 55 is pivotally connected at 63 to a link 54. The links 54 are pivotally connected at 55 to a vertically reciprocable plunger arm 55. By moving the arm 55 downwardly the links 54 act in the manner of toggle levers to spread apart the lower ends of the levers 56 and to allow the cam rollers 55 to act within their yokes to slide the plates 34 and 35 toward each other.

As will be noted in Figure 2 of the drawings the plate 35 is provided with a strip 51 secured thereto along the edge thereof to project beyond the edge of the plate. The plate 34 is provided with two staggered strips 59 and I3 secured thereto in such a manner as to provide a groove between the upper surface of the plate 34 and the strip it into which the projecting edge of the strip 57 may extend. This arrangement tends to kink the paper and to insure a tight seam when the edges of the liner are pressed together as will be later described.

A pair of opposed guides II and F2 are mounted upon the strips 24 and 25 and the opposed strips 29 and 33 for adjustment toward and away from each other. A third guide I3 is mounted upon the strip 33 for movement at right angles to the movement of the guides *II and 712 so that the liner sheet may be properly positioned on the table like structure to extend over the central pocket I4 formed therein between the spaced wall forming members i5 and I6.

A pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined arms '55 and I5 are secured to the wall forming mechanism to limit rotative movement .of. the

The mandrel 82 isconstructed as best.

shaft ll. illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings: This device includes a pair of substantially rectangular plates 87 and 89 which are slidably connected for movement toward and away from each A bar 9i! extends between the plates 87 other. and 89 and supports a pair of blocks 9I near. one

end thereof and a pair of, blocks 92 near the other; end thereof. A stud 93 is anchored in the plate.

ti, extends through aligned apertures in .the blocks QI and the bar 90, and extends into an aperture 9% in the plate 89. A similar stud 95 is also anchored in the plate 31 and extends through the blocks 92 and the bar 90, and extends into an aperture 96 in the plate 89.

These arms are apertured The posi- Set screws Similar parallel studs 97 and 99 are anchored in the plate 89 and extend through apertures in theblocks 9I and 92 and through the bar 923. Shese studs extend into apertures I and I0], respectively in the plate 81. that the plates 87 and 89 may move toward each other a limited extent.

A pair of slidable bars I02 and IE3 are mounted on opposite sides of the bar 90. These bars I62 and H23 are connected by plates It l and I65. These plates hold the bars I32 and I63 from movement relative to each other and form an enclosureso that the two bars thus connected may slide longitudinally of the intermediate bar 9t. 7

A pair of links I66 and I0! are pivotally connected on opposite sides of the bars I92 by means of aligned pivots I619. The links I06 are pivotally connected at H0 to brackets III mounted upon the inner surface of the plate 81. The links It'l are similarly connected along aligned pivots I I2 to brackets I I3 mounted on the inner surface of the plate 89. The links I06 and it? act as toggle levers to move the plates 8'! and.

89 toward or away from each other upon slidable movement of the connected bars :02 and I03.

A pair of links 1 I l and a pair of links II5 are pivotally connected at II6 along aligned pivots to the bars 32 and I03. The links II l are pivotally connected at II'I to brackets H9 mounted upon the inner surface of the plate 87. The links II5 are likewise connected along aligned pivots I20 to brackets I2I mounted upon the inner surface of the plate 89. Thus the links H4 and H5 may act as toggle levers toguide the plates 87 and t9 toward or away from each other upon slidable movement of the bars m2 and I033.

The links IM are provided with angularly extending flanges 522 and support an end closure plate I23. The links H5 are provided with flanges i2 3 which support an end closure plate H5. The end closure plates I23 and I125 are arranged in dove-tail relation so as to allow the two plates to close the major portion of the end'of the mandrel when the plates are in expanded position. Springs I26 are provided between the plates to urge theplates together.

Thus it may be seen.

through i l of the drawings.

Suitable means I2! are provided on the bar 98' engageable with the plates I04 to limit longitudinal sliding of the bars H32 and IE3 in one direction. Suitable means I21 are provided on the bar engageable with the plates I04 to limit longitudinal sliding of the bars IE2 and I93 in one direction. Suitable means I29 on the bar 90, limits the movement of these connected bars in.

the other direction. In extreme expanded position the pairs of links Ifit, I01 and H6, II5 move slightly beyond aligned position so that the springs I26 tend to hold the plates in this expanded position. When moving beyond center in the opposite direction, these links may pivot into angular relation so as to substantially reduce the distance between the plates 81 and 89.

A lever I38 is provided with side plates Isl which extend on opposite sides of the angularly turned end E32 of the bar 96. A pivot I33 extends through the plates I3I and through the bar end I32 to pivotally connect the lever I33 to the bar end. Links i3 1 are pivotally connected at I35 to the lever see and at 536 to the bar IdE. By pivoting the lever lit in a clockwise direction, the bars IE2 and H33 may be urged to the right to expand the mandrel. When the lever 133 is moved in a -counter-clockwise direction the bars I92 and H33 are moved to the left as viewed in Figure 6, tending to contract the mandrel.

An arm i3? is secured to an end of the plate 8? and is bent at right angles at I39 to form an arm Idll substantially parallel to the plate 8?. A handle I i! is mounted upon the arm M8 by means of which the movement of the mandrel 82 as a whole may be accomplished. As also illustrated in Figures 1 and 5 a pair of elongated strips i iZ and I 23 are provided with adset ends Hid secured in surface contact with the plate 81. These strips M2 and H33 act as a guide for the liner during the folding operation in a manner that will be later described. The strips are spaced from the plate at a distance sufficient to allow the pressing plates 34 and 35 to extend therebetween.

In order to actuate the plunger 56 any suitable mechanism may be employed. As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the plunger lid is guided by a bearing Hi5 and is pivotally connected at its lower end at M6 to a foot pedal lever I 37. The foot pedal is? is pivotally connected at its to a link E55 which is pivotally attached in a manner not illustrated to the undersurface of the shelf I2. A foot pedal plate I 53 is attached to the forward end of the lever Id'i and a spring idi connects this lever with the shelf 52 so as to normally urge the pedal plate 55 upwardly. However, when a downward pressure is exerted upon the plate I55 the plunger 65 will be lowered to urge the pressing plates 3 and 35 together.

The operation of my apparatus and method of folding the wrapper is believed best illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 9 The lining sheet is indicated in general by the letter B. This sheet is generally rectangular in form and may be printed if desired to provide the necessary display. The liner B is formed of coated paper or in a cellulosic film which may preferably be pressure sealed. Such liner sheets often have a coating of relatively soft material usually containing wax on the inner surface thereof and the base seal is produced by pressing together two portions of this inner surface. One of the difliculties involved lies in the danger of adherthe 7. ing the liner sheet to a mandrel or block about which the sheet is wrapped in the formation thereof. The liner sheet B is first placed upon the apparatus and is held in proper relation thereupon by the guides H, '12, and 13. This operation takes place while the mandrel 82 is in the upright position illustrated generally in Fig.- ure 1 of the drawings.

The next operation consists in pulling the mandrel 82 to the outer end of the slides 8B which support the mandrel, pivoting the mandrel and guides about the axis of the shaft ll until the mandrel is directly above the liner sheet B. The mandrel is then lowered, pressing the sheet into the pocket i i and forming the sheet into U- shaped form as best illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings, the base 152 of the U being beneath the mandrel and between the mandrel and the bottom of the pocket and the sides I53 and I5 3 of the sheet extending between the mandrel and the wall forming members I5 and it.

The next step of the operation lies in moving the pressing plates 36 and 35 into contacting relation. This is accomplished by pressing down wardly on the foot pedal plate E56 moving the plunger 85 downwardly and expanding the toggle levers M. This act pivots the levers 56 outwardly at their lower ends and inwardly at the upper ends, these upper ends acting to urge the plates 32% and 35 together.

As a result the upwardly projecting portions of the liner are pressed between the top of the mandrel and the strips Hi2 and M3 overlying the mandrel, the paper being doubled rearwardly and rolled over the various edges of the pressing plates as the pressing plates move together. As a result the inner surfaces of the liner may be pressed together by the edges of the pressing plates, these edges being staggered to provide a clamped edge effect as illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings. As will be seen in this figure the seam I55 which is formed by the pressing plates is adhered together along a plurality of spaced lines of pressure, forming a tight tubular structure.

When the seam I55 has been produced, pressure upon the foot pedal plate 53 is released, allowing the spring IE)! to return these plates to retracted position. The mandrel 82 and the slide guides 88 therefor are next pivoted into vertical position as illustrated in Figure l of the drawings. During the entire operation, up to the present point, the mandrel 82 is expanded as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings so that the tubular bag structure formed is the full size of the mandrel when expanded.

When the mandrel 32 is erected the upper end of the liner projects beyond the upper end of the mandrel as illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawings. This projecting end is provided to permit one end of the tubular liner to be sealed.

This sealing operation could take place during movement of the mandrel from horizontal to vertical position by suitable folding means. However, in the apparatus shown, the upper end of the liner is manually sealed. This is accomplished by folding two opposite side walls of the liner downwardly over the top end of the mandrel which produces a pair of triangular upwardly projecting ears on the remaining two sides of the liner. These triangular ears are next folded to overlie the first folded walls and the bag is closed. Inward sealing pressure may be applied to the top of the bag if desired, this pressure being relatively slight to prevent ad- 8. herence of the bag to the mandrel end. In actual practice, the first two opposed sides of the bag are folded down onto the mandrel and into overlapping relation, and slight pressure of the fingernail is run across the mandrel along the seam to adhere the layers together. The upwardly projecting ears of the liner are then grasped and the liner is pulled upwardly slightly to disengage the top of the bag from the mandrel. The triangular ears are next folded downwardly into the form illustrated in Figure 13.

An alternative method of folding the end of the carton and one which is preferable in a mechanical operation consists of folding two opposed walls of the cartons so that the marginal edges thereof engage in surface contact while extending upwardly from the mandrel end. As a result the inner surfaces of the sheet are adhered together. The upstanding seam is then folded downwardly and the remaining walls are folded to overlie the first folded walls. While this method forms a tighter end seal it is more difficult to accomplish manually and the first mentioned fold has been employed with success.

The carton C may be any form of tubular carton having rectangular arranged side Walls and end closure flaps at both ends of the carton. One end I56 of the carton is preferably sealed before the bag is inserted therein. The carton C with the end I56 closed is then inserted over the mandrel bearing the bag B. Thus the folded bag is positioned within the carton in proper position for the filling operation.

The mandrel 82 is next contracted by pivoting the lever I38 relative to the lever [32. During the contracting operation the plates 8? and 89 move toward each other so as to move inwardly from the walls of the bag. Simultaneously the various guiding pins G3, at, fill and 99 project through the plates and tend to strip the bag from the mandrel at any point of adherence thereto. It will be noted that the pins 9': and 99 project through the plate 87 near the center thereof at the point above which the seam I55 was formed. Thus if the ends of the plate have tended to adhere the liner to the mandrel along the center thereof; the pins strip the bag therefrom.

After the mandrel has been contracted the bag and carton are removed therefrom. This is preferably accomplished by a swift upward movement of the carton. If the carton is moved upwardly with sufiicient speed, a partial vacuum is created in the top of the carton between the closed end of the carton and the closed end of the bag. As a result the bag is drawn upwardly by the movement of the carton. Obviously if the carton is moved up slowly the air will enter the space between the closed end of the bag and the closed end of the carton and there will be no means of holding the two members assembled. While other means may be employed the foregoing method has proven most successful.

After removal from the mandrel the bag in the carton may be filled and the remaining bag end and carton end may be closed in the conventional manner. The mandrel may n-ext be expanded. .A new liner sheet may be inserted upon the apparatus and the same procedure again started.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and oporation of my method and apparatus for foldmg wrappers, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for forming a bag including a form having a pocket therein, a mandrel, means pivotally supporting said mandrel for movement from an upright position to one side of said pocket to a position directly above said pocket, means slidably supporting said mandrel for movement from a position above said pocket into said pocket, means for supportin a sheet above said pocket to be bent into U-shaped form by slidable movement of said. mandrel, and slidable means for crimping said sheet together above said mandrel.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and including means for expanding and contracting the mandrel.

3. An apparatus for forming a bag including a form having a pocket therein, a mandrel movable into said pocket, said mandrel being operable to press a sheet into the pocket, a pair of opposed members mounted on said form adjacent to said pocket to engage the sheet along lines spaced from the ends thereof and to wrap the ends of the sheet over said mandrel, means engaging the sheet for retarding the ends of the sheet to bring the inner surfaces of the sheet ends into contact, and means pivotally sup-porting said mandrel for movement from upright position to a position above said pocket, and slidably supporting said mandrel for movement from the position above said pocket to a position in said pocket.

4. An apparatus for forming a bag including a form having a pocket therein, a mandrel movable into said pocket, said mandrel being operable to press a sheet into said pocket, a pair of opposed folding members mounted on said form adjacent to said pocket and movable over the pocket and the mandrel to fold the ends of the sheet over the mandrel, and means spaced above the folding members for engagin the sheet between the points of engagement of said folding members and the ends of the sheet for holding the ends of the sheet overlying the folding members, said means retarding the movement of the ends of the sheet and causing the inner surfaces of the sheet to come into contact between said folding members, said means comprising a pair of members each having one end secured to said mandrel.

5. An apparatus for forming a bag including a form having a pocket therein, amandrel movable into said pocket and being operable to press a sheet into the pocket, means on said form engageable with the sheet ends to Wrap the sheet ends over the mandrel, and means pivotally supporting said mandrel for movement from upright position to a position above said pocket, and slidably supporting said mandrel for movement from the position above said pocket to a position in said pocket.

ROBERT M. DUNNING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 119,307 Bryant et al Sept. 26, 1871 141,862 Dunham Aug. 19, 1873 513,519 M'illis Jan. 30, 1894 755,754 Day Mar. 29, 1904 830,259 Stanley Sept. 4, 1906' 860,176 Wing July 16, 1907 1,085,259 Holden Jan. 27, 1914 1,094,614 Ward Apr. 28, 1914 1,646,572 Burgdorf Oct. 25, 1927 1,953,097 Becker Apr. 3, 1934 2,012,700 Williams Aug. 27, 1935 2,016,650 Pedersen Oct. 8, 1935 2,190,479 Moore Feb. 13, 1940 2,499,960 Leask Mar. 7, 1950 

